Variety (September 1952)

W<iditeBday, Seplejoiljcii* 10, 1952 U£GlTIBfATl! 57 CLT Lines Up 14 Plays in Subscription Sked, With 21 Cities Involved Upped Pressure on Agents, Managers To Invest In Shows Is Resented ^ The Council for the-Living The- atre, which has superseded the Theatre Guild-American Theatre Society in operating a.subscription setup on the road, has lined up 14 shows thus far for this season. That Includes former Broadway productions, mostly for full-season tours, plus at least two pre-Broad- way tryouts. One Coast show which sought CLT subscription status was passed up and is touring without it. Only one touring show is thus far known to have obtained finan- cing from Blue Ribbon Rroduc- tionS,*the cooperative setup of New York and out-of-town theatre man- agements to back offerings to play the road. That is “Paint Your Wagon,’* the Wolfe Kaufman-John Yorke edition of last season’s Alan Jay Lerner-Frederick Loewe musi- cal, with Burl Ives slated to star. Money hs understood available for other projects, but no other man- agements with prospective scripts have applied. A total of $150,000 is reportedly in the kitty, for allot- ment up to $25,000 per show. The tourers set to have CLT subscription sponsorship in two or more of the organization’s 21 cities include “CaU Me Madam,” “I Am a Camera,” “Shrike,” “Constant Wife,” “Stalag 17,” “Fourposter,” “Tree Grows in Brooklyn,” “Wag- on,” “Jane,” “Country Girl,” “Gigi” and “South Pacific,” after latter ends its current and forth- coming Coast dates under the man- agement of Edwin Lester. The try- out tours of “Bernardine” and “Time of the Cuckoo” will be on subscription^ and similar status is being negotiated for others. A committee, not yet complete,, will determine what shows are to have CLT subscription sponsorship. It will consist of five representa- tives of the Guild, United Booking Office and the Shuberts, and five representing Broadway manage- ments. No members of the commit- tee will be permitted to vote on their own productions. The CLT has subscription setups in 21 cities. Sadler’s Wells Ballet After 2 Sock B.O. Tours, Set for ’53 U.S. Return Sadler’s Wells Ballet of London, which had sock tours in its two previous postwar visits to the U.S. and- Canada, has been set for a third visit, in the fall of 1953, by impresario Sol Hurok, Hurok made arrangements last week in London with David Webster, general ad- ministrator of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, which houses the ballet troupe. Sadler’s paid its first visit to the U. S. in 1949, and in a nine-week sellout tour racked up a $500,000 take. Then it returned the follow- ing season (’50-’51) for a more comprehensive, nationwide 20- week tour,. registering a gigantic $2,500,000. Its younger sister troupe, Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet, making its first tour of the U. S. last season (’51-’52), played for 27 weeks, to a fine gross of about $2,000,000. Sadler’s will return to America with such stars as Margot Fonteyn, Moira Shearer, Beryl Grey and Michael Soames. It will also pre- sent the U. S. preem of Frederick Ashton’s new full-evening ballet, “Sylvia,” which had a click bow in London last week. Hurok-Scduts Danes London, Sept. 9. Before he planed^ for Denmark Saturday (6), Where he is to. see the Royal Danish Ballet, Sol Hurok closed a deal for the third Ameri- can season for the Sadler’s Wells Ballet. The troupe will leave London in September, 1953, and will stay in America and Canada for four^ or five mojiths. As on previous oc- casions, it will do a full coast-to- coast tour. Hurok has also been continuing negotiations with the Old Vic nianagement and these will he re- sumed on his return to London. He will then also have talks at Stratford-on-Avon with the Shakes- peare theatre administration. Concert comedienne Anna Rus- sell to open season with program of longhair satires and takeoffs at Town Hall, N. Y., Oct. 5. Colum- bia Lecture Bureau Is sponsoring. Knox, Cununings to Sub As London ‘Journey’ Leads Alexander Knox and Constance Cummings will take over Oct. 6 as leads in “Winter Journey,” the London production of Clifford. Odets* “Country Girl.” They will succeed Michael Redgrave and Googie Withers, who are with- drawing Oct. 4. Sam Wanamaker, who staged the production, will continue in the part of the director. Under its original title, “Country Girl” started a U. S. tour last week with Robert Young and Nancy Kelly in the leading parts played on Broadway two seasons ago by Paul Kelly and Uta Hagen. It is being presented by Paula Stone and Mike Sloane. After a break-in week of one-nighters, the show opened Monday night (8) in San Francisco for a run. ‘Faces’ Uplift To Near-Capacity V After weathering Broadway’s general boxoffice slump with only three losing weeks, “New Faces” has bounced back to near-capacity pace at the Royale, N. Y. For the five weeks ended Aug. 30 the Leon- ard Sillman production grossed a total of $128,586 for an operating profit of $17,383. Added to the operating net for the previous 10 weelcs through July '26, plus advance royalties from the RCA-Victor record album and commercial promotion deals, that brought the total return on the revue to $49,090 thus far. De- ducted from the $114J)96 produc- tion cost and $15,BT6 tryout loss, it left ..$80,820 still to be recouped. During August the $25,400 pro- duction loan \vas repaid and after deduction of $42^207 undistribut- able items, including $22,790 in bonds and $15,000 sinldng fund, $10,972 was available for return on the $134,000 investment. On the conservative basis of the operat- ing profit during August, the mu- sical should theoretically get Into the black about next January- February. TED PRAH’S OUTDOOR DRAMA,‘LAND OF HA.’ Theodore Pratt, whose nine nov- els, three films and a stream of I short stories and articles have fo- cused around Florida, has written his first play about the state, an outdoor drama called “Land of Florida.” Before he ends his annual summer sojourn in New York, re- turning to his permanent home in Boca Raton next month, he plans setting' production of the play which has a geographical problem in that there is no such thing as a hill in southern Florida on which to build an amphitheatre. He figures that an artificial hill, on which to perch the theatre, would in itself constitute a draw in the otherwise flat state. WiiKams’ ‘House’ Opens Very Big in London London, Sepf. 9. After its standout opening at the Edinburgh festival, where it grossed more than $8,400 in five days, Emlyn Williams* one man production of “Bleak House” made an auspicious entry into the West End. It opened at the Ambassadors Sept. 3 under the management of Tennent Productions, and was unan- imously acclaimed. It will play a limited season and early in the new year WUliams will repeat the show in New York under Sol Hu- rok’s management. Emlyn Williams follows the same technique that he used in^ his earlier season of Dickens readings. Makeup and dress are identical, and in every respect the presenta- tion follows the style used by Dick- ens himself. Another 70G ‘Guys’ Divvy; Over $1,100,000 Paid Out Another $70,000 dividend, repre- senting profits earned during August, is being paid this week by “Guys and Dolls.” That brings the total distribution of the Frank Loesser-Jo Swerling-A b e Burrows musical to $1,118,192 thus far. The Cy Feuer-Ernest H. Martin production was financed at $200,- 000, plus $50,000 overcall. The original company is now in its 95th week at the 46th Street, N. Y,, and the touring edition is in ithe 29th week of a Chicago run. ‘Age’ Slated for Broadway Bow, Following Its Okay Preem in Maine Strawhat On the basis of its strawhat try- out, “Be Your Age,” new comedy by Reginald Denham and Mary Orr, is now definitely slated for Broadway production this season. The play drew favorable reviews and enthusiastic audience response last week at the Lakewood Theatre, Skowhegan, Me. The Broadway presentation will be by Alexander H. Cohen and Joseph Kipness. Although attendance on the post- Labor Day week started only mod- erately, it picked up on the strength of word-of-mouth com- ment and hit virtifial capacity for the three performances Friday and Saturday (5-6). Gross for the week was nearly $6,700 on a- potential capacity of $10,000 at a $1.80 top in the 1,070-seat house. With Denham already slated to stage the Broadway production of the London meller success, “Dial ‘M’ for Murder,” starring Maurice Evans, the premiere of which is dated for Oct. 30, he will not be able to attend to “Be Your Age” until late fall. Meanwhile, the play will be rewritten and recast. The present plan is to put the new show into rehearsal early in November, with a two-and-a-half-week tryout in New Haven and Boston prior to the New York opening about Christmas time. However, that schedule may be set back about a month to avoid playing the tryout during the slack pre-Chtistmas pe- riod. Decision to bring “Age” to Broadway in the fall apparently re- sulted largely from the marked improvement in the performance during last week’s barn engage- ment. After the opening, Kipness reportedly favored moving the comedy to Broadway as early in the fall as possible, but Cohen was understood to have urged delaying until major rewriting could be done. However, Denham’s contin- ued impi'ovements in the staging and the sharpened performance during the week led (^ohen to re- vise his judgment. Also on Cohen’s schedule this season is a production of Patrick Hamilton’s thriller, “The Man Up- stairs,” in association with Rita Allen. This will probably be done first in London. ‘PORGY’BOWS IN VIENNA TO WARM RECEPTION Vienna, Sept 9. In a visit sponsored by the U. S. State Dept., the Blevins Davis-Rob- ert Breen production of “Porgy and Bess” preemed at the Volksoper here Sunday night (7) to a warm reception from both Austrian and American first-nighters. Cast was headed by William Warfield, Leon- tyne Price and Cab Calloway, with Alexander Smallens conducting the orchestra. While the Viennese audience was initially slow in adjusting itself to the American .folk opera, the stirring George Gershwin music j and fine performalices of the cast I evoked praise and a dozen curtain calls at the finale. Four more per- formances are scheduled for the Volksoper. Company of 65 HeSroes next heads for Berlin, Paris and London. U.S. Witch-Hunt Meller Gets Pre-London Bow “The Trouble-Makers,” a melo- drama about witch-hunters at an American university, Is being tried out this week at Brighton,- Eng- land, prior to its premiere next Tuesday night (16) at the Strand, London. ■ The play is by George Beliak. U. S. leglt-TV actor Gene Lyons went to England to play the lead- ing part. Scott, Ctindos Propping 1st Miami Legit Season Miami, Sept. 9. Sandy Scott and Nick Condos, operators of summer legit at the Cameo, Miami Beach, the past three seasons, plan to stage legit In Miami proper for the first time this winter. They’ve taken the 2,- 500-seater Dade County Audito- rium, and plan a 10-week season of musicals and straight shows, start- ing Jan, 15. Producers are also looking for a new script to break in here, as possible Broadway ve- hicle for Martha Raye, Condos* wife. Herb Marks agency in N. Y. is already doing casting for the sea- son. Producers ran the Cameo this summer for 11 weeks. Heav][ Sked For McClintic Group Katharine Cornell, Guthrie Mc- Clintic and their production asso- ciates have the most active lineujp of shows this season in the history of the office. Six presentations, all told, are scheduled. List is already under way with the tour of last season’s Broadway hit, John van Druten’s “I Am a Camera,” presented by Miss Cor- nell’s production associate and manager, Gertrude Macy, and Walter Starcke. Meanwhile, Mc- Clintic is producing and staging a new Mary Chase comedy, “Bema- dine,” which is due Oct. 22 at the Playhouse, N. Y., after tryout stands in Boston and Washington. McClintic will also be occupied more or less simultaneously with the restaging of “Constant Wife,” the Somerset Maugham revival which his wife, Miss Cornell, will take on tour early in October. Af- ter that he will supervise the scheduled U. S. tour of the Greek National Theatre productions of “Electra” and “Oedipus Rex,” co- starring Katina Paxinou and Alexis Minotis, under sponsorship of ANTA and several Gredk-American cultural organizations. Meanwhile, Miss Macy and Starcke are proceeding with prep- arations for the production of the new van Druteh play, “I’ve Got Sixpence.” The author, who will also direct, is currently on the Coast with Starcke to audition can- didates for the all-lnu)ortant male lead. The rest of the cast Is ten- tatively set, and Boris Aronson is signed to design the scenery. At the same time, Stanley Gilkie, McClintic’s general manager, is going ahead with plans for his own production of a new George Kelly comedy, “When All Else Fails,” de- scribed as dealing with a “still-at- tractive middle-aged woman with a shyly demure, yet predatory in- stinct toward the opposite sex.” Kelly, whose previous plays have included “The Show-Off.” “Craig’s Wife,” “Torch Bearers,” “Reflected Glory” and “Fatal Weakness,” will attend to the staging, as usual. Equity Closes Non-Union Coast House Using Pros Hollywood, Sept. 9. Sartu Theatre, Hollywood Blvd. legiter which has been operating* for a year as an amateur house, was shuttered by Equity when two 4A’s members were found to be working in the cast of “Over 21.” Owner Edward Sartu said he would resume later this week with a dif- ferent production, and nothing but tyro talent. Equity Coast rep, Charles Mere- dith quoted thf ’ Charles Maxwell and Jeanne C .i as saying that Sartu had infoi ued them there was no question of union jurisdic- tion. They bowed out when ap- praised of the situation. Meredith expressed the hope that no dis- ciplinary action would be neces- sary, since the pair cooperated when informed of the status. Reported instances of press- agents and company managers be- ing pressured to invest In produc- tions they’re applicants to handle, is causing increasing resentment in Broadway circles. There’s some agitation for action by the union, the Assn, of Theatrical Press Agents & Managers, but it’s fig- ured there might be difficulty drafting a rule that would be ef- fective, Basic situation is not new, but has become more serious in the last season or so by the progres- sive scarcity of theatrical financing. However, it’s admittedly difficult in some cases to determine when employee participation in a show’s financing is involuntaryv In certain instances, agents and managers are eager to invest in shows on which they’re to work, and in a few such cases the participants are figured fortunate to have the opportunity. However, there have been vari- ous examples in the last couple of seasons of agents and managers expected and tacitly required to in- vest an amount equal to several weeks’ salary in a show, or to bring in a substantial amount of finan- cing. In some cases, agents and managers have been Instrumental in thus producing major portions of production bankrolls, occasion- ally by arranging elaborate parties at which the producei; and poten- tial backers could get acquainted. Where an agent or manager puts up, say, an amount equal to two weeks’ salary, the flop of the show may mean that he handles the try- out tour without pay. And in the opinion of some ATPAM members, that amounts to wiping out the union’s minimum pay rules. For that reason, some members favor a flat rule by the ATPAM forbid- ding its members from investing in any show on which they’re em- ployed. But such a regulation would probably be opposed by some of the top agents and managers, who consistently made a profit on in- vestments in the hits of successful producers. Also, it’s pointed out, it would be difficult to draft or enforce a rule that would cover all situations. Even if direct invest- ment by the agent or manager or his Immediate family were barred, the prospective employee might be pressured to bring in a comparable amount of financing from friends or business associates. Mull Miss. River Showboat For Musical ‘Finn’ to WFark 1953 La. Purchase Fete St. Louis, Sept. 9. Execs of a local committee plan- ning the 150th celebration of the Louisiana Purchase here next year, are mulling a proposal to under- write the construction of a new Mississippi River showboat to pre- sent a musical version of “Huckle- berry Finn,’ that would visit towns up and down the Mississippi after its local engagement. The plan has been submitted by Albert Johnson, of New York, who served as art director for the Muni- cipal Theatre Assn, during the 34th season that wound up Aug. 31. Johnson’s plan calls for a boat, 300 X 100 feet, large enough to seat 2,000 persons, and a stage to be fashioned by welding together the hulls of two steel barges. He said rivermen have advised that the Idea is feasible. ‘ Johnson said the showboat pro- duction costs would be only a small part of what it would cos£. on Broadway, and that the cast here would probably be chosen from this area. The musical version of “Finn,” by Marvin Moore, who dramatized the yarn, and Henry Sullivan, the composer, took three years to do, said Johnson. KEATING VICE GABRIEL AS CUE DRAMA CRITIC John Keating, Staff member and former feature editor of Cue mag, will take over as drama critic for the publication, succeeding Gilbert W. Gabriel,-who died last week. His first stint on the new job will be the opening tomorrow night (Thurs.) of “Seagulls Over Sorrento,” at the Golden, N. Y.